Scarywood makes for a worthwhile Halloween experience
Last weekend, a group of friends and I piled into a car, traveled north to Coeur d’Alene and took part in the annual spook-fest called Scarywood.
Ian Bartlett | Rawr
Zombie chainsaw butchers and other bloody characters waited by the Tremors roller coaster for guests to come through before they revved their saws. When it came to scaring, they showed no mercy. However, to make sure everyone stayed safe, security guards were always nearby. Nov. 1 is the last day Scarywood is open this year.
For those who don’t know, Scarywood is a yearly Halloween event during the month of October. The theme park Silverwood is decked out in haunting décor and opened after dark. Guests can take a ride on a train full of terrors, venture into numerous haunted houses and go on their favorite rides in the middle of the night.
In most situations, I am scared easily, but Scarywood is a tradition and I’ve grown to enjoy most of the spooks. This year was the best experience I’ve had at the park so far. For any prospective guests, here is some advice to make the experience the best it can be.
First of all, pack warmly. It doesn’t matter what the local weatherman said the forecast would be. Every time I’ve gone to Scarywood, it has rained. For an adventure in northern Idaho at night, layers are always going to be the key to comfort.
A lot of people who go to Scarywood enter with high expectations of the haunted train ride located near the park’s entrance. Personally, I don’t think it meets the hype. This year my group got to the park exactly when it opened at 7 p.m., and there was still a two-hour wait for the train.
Instead, we decided to forgo the attraction. As a result, we went on every major roller coaster and walked through every haunted house until the park closed at 1 a.m. It seemed like the better deal if you asked me.
Even though there weren’t many roller coasters, they were the highlight of my experience. One of the most popular rides throughout Silverwood’s normal season, Timber Terror, was run backward, and it made the ride even more exciting.
When people in our group got too cold, we took to the haunted houses. Scarywood offered a wide variety of haunted houses, and though we couldn’t relax due to the petrified screams of other guests, they provided the warmth we were looking for.
Though it may seem obvious, Scarywood definitely isn’t an experience for the faint of heart. The first year I attended, I was incredibly anxious due to my horrible track record with horror films.
By far, the most terrifying parts of Scarywood for me were the employees scattered throughout the park, clad in scary costumes, specifically working to terrorize the guests. Some calmly stalked groups of people, while others hid in the darkness to jump out at an unsuspecting passersby. Of course, I couldn’t leave out the two w
orkers with chainsaws who would chase guests for unimaginable lengths.
For those people who, like me, are scared by the slightest wisp of wind, those bloody chainsaws shouldn’t stop you from having a good time at Scarywood. The employees aren’t allowed to touch you, so if you don’t run, they’ll go away. Also, I quickly learned if I started laughing instead of screaming, the workers would think I was shaking due to humor instead of pure fear. If none of these are effective, ask to take a picture with them. You’ll avoid getting scared and leave with a plethora of free souvenirs.
I’m the biggest wimp I know, yet I still make an effort to go to the park every year. The fact that someone like me has made Scarywood a tradition should be the biggest selling point any amusement park could ever ask for.
Erin Bamer can be reached at [email protected]